Practical guides for local AI
Start with your computer, get one model working, then make an informed upgrade decision.
First, find your memory
Check VRAM and RAM on Windows, Mac or Linux. Use the available capacity, not just the number on the box.
Run your first local model with Ollama
A small-model walkthrough: check memory, choose an exact download, start a local chat and confirm GPU loading.
Choosing 8, 12, 16 or 24 GB of GPU memory
Compare memory capacities using a consistent local AI workload, with worked VRAM and system RAM examples.
Fix local AI out-of-memory errors
Separate VRAM pressure, system RAM limits and runtime problems, then change one setting at a time.
Quantization and context length explained
Understand the two memory controls with a worked example, without confusing smaller files with faster or better answers.
Check the evidence
Our calculation and editorial methodology explains the assumptions. Published benchmark references show measured workloads, with their limitations.